I'm picking up a Pistol lower today from a FFL and it had to be registered as a 'other' and was sent from the manufacture that way. The FFL was unsure as well and called both the manufacture and the ATF. The paperwork was just like a pistol.

Getting a pistol lower is the same as ordering and buying a handgun... like SCannon says, order it online and have it shipped to your FFL. Follow your FFLs requirements for doing that, like letting them know in advance. :thumbup:

Unless you want a lower marked "Pistol" complete the paperwork on a stripped lower as a "reciever". If you want a complete pistol lower it will have to be ordered and registered as a handgun.

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Still is an "other" until built into a pistol or a rifle...... Something that does not meet the definition of pistol or rifle can not be either......... This came about because you have to be over 21 to own an "other". So people were putting stocks on AR lowers to make them "long guns" and according to the ATF a long gun has to have a 16" + barrel and a stocked receiver does not meet that definition.

I can stamp/paint "Pistol" on any gun I want, but that still does not legally make it a pistol. Also it is legal to switch between pistol and rifle now assuming you started with a pistol.

Don't take my advice or anyone elses call BATF do not take any chances.

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While that sounds like good advice it really is not. First depending on who you get on the phone they probably dont know the answer. Second even if they tell you one thing and you do it and they are wrong, you are still liable for it. The only reasonably sure way if you dont want to go with all the letters and forms already put out by the ATF you need to write them. When you get a letter back that says what you are trying to do is legal you should be good to go. Of course even the ATF has "changed their mind" and reversed those too.......

Thanks! Wow, I have more than that sitting on my desk right now! I've been debating on what to do next, and this really reassures me on the idea of another AR build. Mark's Armory seems to be out of stock on their uppers, but you gave me a good starting point. Only $100 for the optic, huh? I already have a red-dot ready to mount, but it's good to know.

I would get a virgin lower (a lower that was never assembled/built) and just for kicks and giggles I would get PISTOL engraved on it somewhere and build my pistol (I am not clear on having it registered as a pistol)..... if anyone sees a problem with what I said please feel free to correct me.

I would get a virgin lower (a lower that was never assembled/built) and just for kicks and giggles I would get PISTOL engraved on it somewhere and build my pistol (I am not clear on having it registered as a pistol)..... if anyone sees a problem with what I said please feel free to correct me.

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No problem other than a waste of time and money.
Why is this confusing people?? A STRIPPED LOWER HAS NEVER BEEN BUILT AND IS THEREFORE NOTHING BUT A RECEIVER...AKA; OTHER. You can engrave super duper laser ray gun with unobtanium Costa beard powers. Doesn't change anything it's still a lower.

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